If I forgot and left this sitting around, I guess I could get in trouble. Especially once it has some Aqua Teen Hunger Force LED OH WAIT THIS JUST IN !!!
Boston went on high alert, closing bridges and roads, after 38 battery-powered devices were discovered around the city on Wednesday.
Source: Boston ad stunt scare duo charged, 1 February 2007.
Anyway, this was plastered all over CNN. Which made it really funny, when it turned out more Turner (Ted Turner) owned property. Seems like a round about way of advertising the Aqua Teen Hunger Force movie.
The media continues to refer to them as hoax devices. What's a hoax device?
For the purposes of this section, the term “hoax device” shall mean any device that would cause a person reasonably to believe that such device is an infernal machine. For the purposes of this section, the term “infernal machine” shall mean any device for endangering life or doing unusual damage to property, or both, by fire or explosion, whether or not contrived to ignite or explode automatically. For the purposes of this section, the words “hoax substance” shall mean any substance that would cause a person reasonably to believe that such substance is a harmful chemical or biological agent, a poison, a harmful radioactive substance or any other substance for causing serious bodily injury, endangering life or doing unusual damage to property, or both.
Source: General Laws of Massachusetts,
Chapter 226. CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY Section 102A1/2
The law goes on to make the point that, if convicted the defendant is liable for restitution to the government for any financial losses incurred in responding to the hoax. The city's overreaction and ignorance cost about five to seven minutes of Iraq war.
Cartoon Network issued an apology because their lawyers told them to. The youths charged gave a fantastic press conference, because their lawyer told them not to talk about the event (thanks, Andre).
These artists, made these things and put them up, and the Norms find them threatening and shut down a whole city. Recovered light boards are selling for up to $2000 on eBay (thanks, Andy) which is also presently awash in topical tshirts (none as good as the ATHF is the bomb shirt at Raplica. (thanks, Sean).
I have never wanted to be a performance artist more in my life!
